Zebra Technologies Joins CompTIA RFID+T Certification Committee

November 172005

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., November 2005 - The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) today announced that Zebra Technologies Corporation, a global leader in delivering on-demand printing solutions for business and process improvement and with 10 years' experience in radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, is lending its expertise to the development of a vendor-neutral professional certification of RFID skills.

CompTIA RFID+(tm) certification is a credential that will validate the knowledge and skills of professionals needed to meet the expected high demand for RFID talent over the next several years. As a member of the certification cornerstone committee, Zebra Technologies will contribute technical content and subject-matter expertise.

A pioneer in RFID encoding technologies, Zebra was the first company to produce an integrated, on-demand RFID printer/encoder more than five years ago. Today, Zebra plays a key role in RFID standards and applications development, and has significant experience working with resellers and integrators to identify where the technology can be applied to internal business processes for maximum financial return.

"The success of any professional certification is determined in large part by the commitment and support it receives from leading organizations in the industry," said David Sommer, vice president, electronic commerce, CompTIA. "That is why we are pleased to welcome Zebra Technologies to the CompTIA RFID+ committee. With a decade of experience in delivering RFID products for commercial and government applications, Zebra Technologies is well positioned to help us create a valuable tool that will advance the skill level of the global RFID workforce."

Research commissioned by CompTIA and conducted by Frost & Sullivan, a global leader in strategic growth consulting, revealed that RFID implementations are poised to grow over the next year. The survey of more than 500 companies in North America found that just over 50 percent of them have either completed RFID implementations or plan to do so within the next 12 months. However, a worldwide lack of skilled integrators who have the facilities, education and expertise to design, deploy and manage RFID networks has the potential to hamper the adoption RFID in all countries and industries. "As the number of RFID implementations continues to rise, certification will become increasingly important as a means for companies to ensure they are deploying the appropriate RFID systems to meet their business goals and to achieve maximum ROI," said Bob Cornick, vice president of RFID for Zebra. "Zebra is excited to be a member of the RFID+ Certification Committee and to be working with such a respected, leading-edge organization as CompTIA."

CompTIA RFID+ certification is intended for individuals with a foundational knowledge of RFID technology and between six and twenty-four months of experience in the RFID industry. The certification covers a wide range of topics related to the installation, configuration and maintenance of RFID hardware and device software, including interrogation zone basics, testing and troubleshooting, standards and regulations, tag knowledge, design selection, installation, site analysis, RF physics, and RFID peripherals.

About Zebra TechnologiesZebra Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: ZBRA) delivers innovative and reliable on-demand printing solutions for business improvement and security applications in 100 countries around the world. More than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Zebra-brand printers. A broad range of applications benefit from Zebra-brand thermal bar code, "smart" label, receipt and card printers, resulting in enhanced security, increased productivity, improved quality, lower costs and better customer service. The company has sold nearly five million printers, including RFID printer/encoders and wireless mobile solutions, and also offers software, connectivity solutions and printing supplies.

Information about Zebra bar code and RFID products can be found at www.zebra.com.

About CompTIAThe Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a global trade association representing the business interests of the information technology (IT) industry. For more than 23 years CompTIA has provided research, networking and partnering opportunities to its 20,000-plus members in 102 countries. The association is involved in developing standards and best practices, and influencing the political, economic and educational arenas that impact IT worldwide. More information is available at www.comptia.org.